Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information regarding Fostering placements for Looked After Children.

1. Who, within the local authority, has commissioning responsibility for Fostering placements for Looked After Children? Please provide the following:
a) Name
b) Job title
c) Telephone no.
d) Email address

2. How many approved foster carer households are registered with the Local Authority as at 30th Jun-20, 30th Sep-20, 31st Dec-20, 31st Mar-21, 30th June-21, 30th Sep-21 and 31st Dec-21?

3. How many Looked After Children (LAC) has the Local Authority funded in foster care placements, with in-house foster carers, with Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) carers, with Kinship (family and friends) foster carers and in IFA therapeutic fostering placements, as at 30th Jun-20, 30th Sep-20, 31st Dec-20, 31st Mar-21, 30th June-21, 30th Sep-21 and 31st Dec-21?

4. What are the average weekly fees that the local authority would pay to foster care providers (in-house, IFAs and IFA therapeutic fostering placements) for the following age groups in 2020/2021 and year to date in 2021/2022?
a) 0 to 4
b) 5 to 10
c) 11 to 15
d) 16 to 18

5. Please provide a list of preferred Independent Fostering Agencies, the gross total expenditure with that agency and the number of placements with that agency in 2020/21
Note: By ‘preferred’ we mean those agencies that would be considered and chosen for placements on a preferential basis by the council.

6. What is the gross total expenditure on fostering services for Looked After Children? Please provide actual figures for financial years 2017/18 to 2020/21, as well as budgeted expenditure for 2021/22.